Congress not averse to doing biz with Koda

ET Bureau|

Nov 28, 2009, 02.22 AM IST

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NEW DELHI: After the first phase of elections in Jharkhand, a jittery Congress seems to have abandoned its poll strategy of distancing itself from Madhu Koda, the chief minister it supported while he allegedly amassed disproportionate assets. The party has swung from patting the UPA administration on the back for uncovering the massive scam to describing Mr Koda as a victim of ‘trial by media.’ Senior Congress leader and Union minister Ambika Soni even hinted that Congress might not be averse to taking all ‘secular’ support that came its way, Mr Koda included.

“I am not defending Mr Koda, but at the same time, cannot approve of his trial by media. We are not interfering with investigations. But holding someone guilty is the jurisdiction of a court. Anyone who respects our commitment to secular development and has faith in our leader (Sonia Gandhi) is welcome to the UPA fold,” Ms Soni told a press conference in Ranchi on Thursday.

The statement is at odds with Congress’ strategy of putting distance between itself and the scam allegedly spawned by Mr Koda. It even entered into an alliance with Jharkhand’s Mr Clean, Babulal Marandi, in order to rid itself of the corruption taint. It had claimed that Congress was not a part of the Koda government but only supported it in order to give the state a stable government. It also claimed the investigation into the scam under a UPA administration was itself a sign of the Congress attitude of zero tolerance towards corruption.

Assessing that it will be damaged to a great extent due to its association with Mr Koda, Congress is persisting with statements about having zero tolerance to corruption but strangely this rhetoric is now accompanied by overtures to Mr Koda. Congress sources explained this contradiction by pointing to the healthy prospects of Mr Koda’s nominees — he has floated a new party, the Jharkhand Nav Nirman Manch — in six assembly segments of the East Singbhum district.

A leader indicated that the party could be making advance plans keeping in mind the post-poll scenario. “There is a public perception that Congress had backed Mr Koda. That is damaging us,” the leader said. However, he also admitting that in East Singhbhum, Mr Koda could hurt Congress.

“His wife could win and the others he has fielded are also doing well,” the leader said. Congress’ new line is possibly the result of its expectations of tight contest and fluid post-poll scenario. The 81-member Jharkhand assembly has seen several fractured mandates.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the Congress has even begun making overtures to other ‘secular’ parties such as RJD, JMM, and LJP. AICC general secretary in-charge of Jharkhand, Kesava Rao, added to Ms Soni’s words when spelt out that the party was open to a post-poll arrangement with these parties.

“We decided to fight the elections here with the (Marandi’s) JVM(P). But that does not mean we have parted ways with our other allies. We have great respect for each other,” he said.